Questions abound for Novak Djokovic after US Open loss and 3 years without a Grand Slam title

Novak Djokovic waved goodbye, made a heart shape with his hands and blew kisses to the crowd as he walked off the court inside Arthur Ashe Stadium to a standing ovation.

Among those applauding in return were Djokovic’s 11-year-old son Stefan, while his 8-year-old daughter Tara covered her eyes and loaded her floppy-eared stuffed animal into a bag that went around her shoulder.

Back down on the court, Djokovic had his two black bags — one containing his rackets and the other more equipment — hanging from his shoulders.

After his first-round loss to Mariano Navone at the U.S. Open on Sunday night, it remains to be seen whether the 39-year-old Djokovic will ever bring those bags out on a court again for a professional match.

The 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 loss marked Djokovic’s earliest Grand Slam exit in two decades — dating back to the 2006 Australian Open — and the first time ever that he lost his opener at the U.S. Open.

The holder of a men’s record 24 Grand Slam singles titles, Djokovic has now gone three straight years without winning a major.

Physical issues

Perhaps even more concerning than his record — which has otherwise still been fairly competitive since his last Grand Slam title at the 2023 U.S. Open — is that Djokovic has consistently struggled with physical issues this year.

After a run to the Australian Open final to start the year, Djokovic played little because of an injured right shoulder. Then he appeared weakened by a Paris heat wave in a five-set loss to Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca in the third round of the French Open.

“I was barely standing on my legs toward the end of the match,” Djokovic said after getting beaten by Fonseca.

Djokovic revived himself for a run to the semifinals at Wimbledon and then struggled again at the Cincinnati Open this month when he was beaten by 50th-ranked Thiago Agustin Tirante in his opening match.

After the loss to Tirante, Djokovic said an unspecified health condition made it difficult for him to play in hot and humid weather.

“It’s just a condition that I have, health-wise, that has been bothering me for the past couple of years,” Djokovic said. “A lot of issues, especially when it is humid and it is hot. … Nerves and everything involved that make it worse.”

Djokovic’s issues against Navone began midway through the first set when he appeared to be struggling with the heat and humidity. Djokovic led early on in the first set but Navone got back on serve before the match was briefly halted for the roof to be closed because of light rain.

As Djokovic sat in his chair during the break, he kept moving an ice pack around his face, head and neck.

Navone won the first in a tiebreaker and things eventually got much worse for Djokovic, who threw up at least once and later appeared to be cramping when he grabbed at his left foot. Djokovic swallowed pills brought to him by a doctor and had his lower back massaged during a medical timeout between the fourth and fifth sets, and he grimaced after several shots.

Djokovic made 70 unforced errors in a painful performance that ended a few minutes before midnight.

“It’s something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year: vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there,” Djokovic said. “Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain. Yeah, the back just gave up in the end and shoulder, and I couldn’t close it out.”

What’s next?

Where does Djokovic go from here? While he hasn’t openly discussed an imminent retirement, one final hurrah at the Australian Open — the Grand Slam tournament he’s won a record 10 times — in January would be a fitting setting for a final send-off.

Or he could continue competing into his 40s.

After all, Djokovic has reached two Grand Slam finals and six semifinals over the last three years.

“I feel when I’m healthy, I’m still able to play as a top-five player, still able to compete at the highest level,” Djokovic said after his semifinal loss to Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon this year.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s physical issues

Djokovic is the last man still competing among the Big Three players who dominated the game over the last two decades.

Roger Federer (knee) and Rafael Nadal (hip) also struggled with physical issues before they retired in 2022 and 2024, respectively. Federer was 41 when he stopped and Nadal was 38.

Djokovic’s 24 major titles are two more than Nadal’s 22 and four more than Federer’s 20. Those numbers prompt some to consider Djokovic tennis’ GOAT.

“That’s OK. He has done incredible,” Federer said last week. “It’s amazing what he has been able to do and still now. I would have thought that maybe he was getting to a place where all of a sudden we would see a much bigger decline.”

Now — perhaps — Djokovic is declining more severely.

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AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno in New York contributed to this report.

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